hey guys, i've bought a new m3ds real few days ago and just got it today.
did plenty of research and problems and more problems, tried several ways to install the firmware.

displayed on the adapter (www.m3adapter.com), side loading spring, and m3sakura logo on right conner.

first try
i got the latest firmware from http://www.handheldsources.com/M3DS/Download_M3DSR.html
(System V4.3f X (Europe/USA)
extracted with winrar and drag and drop the folder (SYSTEM) to the flash card 2gb sandisk fat32 (formatted many times)
inserted flash card in to m3ds real adapter and into nds, and the nds did not read the adapter

second try
formatted the 2gb sandisk flash card to original settings
redownloaded and extracted firmware, copy pasted onto flash card, created newfolder renamed to NDS and GBA
inserted into nds and still "there is no ds card inserted"

after X# of tries with numbers of vers of firmware i give up and im here typing up this topic
i've heard about the faulted adapters and fake cards, and im assuming mine is either/or
but i havnt lost faith in the adapter i bought so will someone please confirm if the card is bad or good im going nuts
again, i dont have a picture of the adapter i described it above (m3sakura logo on top right conner, side spring insert, and www.m3adapter.com website)

The firmware has nothing to do with the DS reading your M3. The contacts must not be meeting. Try putting a piece of paper in between the m3 and the DS (make sure it doesn't go in between the side that reads the card because then it definitely won't be read). This should the DS to read the M3.

If you can't get that to work, send your M3 back to the place you bought it and ask for a replacement.

The firmware has nothing to do with the DS reading your M3. The contacts must not be meeting. Try putting a piece of paper in between the m3 and the DS (make sure it doesn't go in between the side that reads the card because then it definitely won't be read). This should the DS to read the M3.

If you can't get that to work, send your M3 back to the place you bought it and ask for a replacement.

i've tried the paper thing, thanks a bunch i just wanted to make sure i did everything correctly because i got it from a site that was said to have good rep (divineo.com), i guess ill be chasing my money back now..thanks again

also tried sakura firmware, no luck

blow the thing till im was out of breath, lol
tried several physical actions, sorry for not including in the first post

Take a piece of sandpaper (about 1" wide) , fold it in half and insert in the slot between the contacts and casing. (the fold in the paper will make it thick enough to clean the contacts). Gently sand the contacts and remember to blow out the slot with air to remove any dust.